Khorlochhu Hydropower Project

About Khorlochhu Hydropower Project:

• Situated on the Kholongchhu River in Eastern Bhutan’s Trashiyangtse district, the project seeks to meet Bhutan’s rising electricity demands and aid India’s renewable energy transition.
• It is the first-ever energy project to be developed through a joint venture (JV) partnership between India and Bhutan.
• It will be constructed by Khorlochhu Hydro Power Limited (KHPL), a strategic partnership between Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) and India’s Tata Power.
• The 600 MW project the project is expected to be commissioned in September 2029.
• The project will feature a 95m-high concrete gravity dam measuring 165m in length and 6m in width. The dam will create a 1.4 km long reservoir with 2.9 million cubic metres (MCM) of gross storage capacity.
• The electricity generated from the Kholongchhu hydroelectric project will be transmitted to the NEWNE grids of Bhutan and India via 400 kV transmission lines.
• The project is estimated to cost £488.14 m (INR 46.32bn), which is being financed under a debt-equity ratio of 70:30. The Government of India is providing DGPC’s share of equity.

Q1: What is a gravity dam?

A gravity dam is a type of dam structure that is primarily designed to resist the force of gravity and hold back water or other materials. It relies on its own weight and mass to counteract the horizontal pressure exerted by the water or other materials it is retaining. Gravity dams are among the oldest and most common types of dams used for various purposes, including water supply, irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation.

Source: Tata Power Embarks on Bhutans's Ambitious Hydropower Journey